How to remove ammonium from drinking water?

13/09/2022

Ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₄⁺/ NH₃) is a common contaminant in drinking water, both surface and groundwater. The World Health Organisation sets a limit of 0.5 mg/l in drinking water. However, NH₄⁺/ NH₃ levels above 3 mg/L are frequently found.

The source of pollution mainly comes from the abusive use of fertilisers, overexploitation of livestock, urban wastewater or polluted effluents from industrial processes.

Ammonium problems in drinking water:

In high concentrations, ammonia is harmful to humans as it can cause damage to the mucous membrane covering the lungs. It can also cause alkaline burns.

For the environment, the presence of this type of pollutant seriously affects the stability of ecosystems. The biggest problem is undoubtedly the contamination of drinking water bodies.

Ammoniacal nitrogen belongs to the nutrient group of nitrogenous species. Therefore, the high concentration of these pollutants discharged into water bodies exceeds the natural self-purification capacity of ecosystems and contributes to the massive growth of organic matter.

The presence of a large quantity of this nutrient causes a phenomenon called eutrophication. This phenomenon consists of an accelerated and uncontrolled growth of algae, which rapidly cover the surface of the water. The increase in biomass causes a deterioration in water quality. It also causes turbidity that impedes light from penetrating to the bottom of the ecosystem. As a consequence, vegetation dies and a large amount of sedimentable solids and dead plant debris is generated.

This causes the oxygen in the available water mass to be depleted (anoxia), resulting in a major natural disaster that leads to the death of thousands of species and aquatic organisms.

Nitratos en el Mar Menor -eutrofización — (Source: Rtve)

In conclusion, regulating their concentration in the discharge is vital to preserve the environment.

Ways to remove ammonium from drinking water:

The most commonly used methods to remove ammonium from drinking water are as follows:

Physico-chemical technologies:

Air entrainment: Reagents are added to raise the pH.
Break-Point Chlorination: Chlorine is added.
Chemical precipitation: Reagents are added.
Electro-oxidation: An electric current is passed through the water.

Biological disposal technologies

BIOBOX® Ammonium: It is a treatment produced by the natural action of bacteria.

Technologies available on the market to remove ammonia nitrogen from drinking water; (Source : BIOBOX®)

Comparative table with ammonium removal treatments on the market (Source : BIOBOX®)

BIOBOX® Amonio:

BIOBOX® Amonio integra una tecnología propia capaz de eliminar biológicamente nitrógeno amoniacal con rendimientos superiores al 90% en aguas potables.

Advantages of technology:

We are able to treat large flows, with high concentrations of the pollutant in one container.
No generation of pollutant by-products
NH₄⁺removal efficiency above 90%.
Lower operating and investment costs (↓OPEX and ↓ CAPEX)
Results guaranteed